Conductor line jar



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 D. W. OSMUN CONDUCTOR LINE JAR April 19, 1955 FiledJan. 12, 195] April 19, 1955 D. w. osMUN 2,706,616

CONDUCTOR LINE JAR Filed Jan. l2, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 -I--f :Eao

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[Illu ATTORNEY United States Patent CONDUCTOR LINE JAR Dean W. Osmun,Houston, Tex. Application January 12, 1951, Serial No. 205,790 1 Claim.(Cl. 255 27) This invention relates to a conductor line jar, and moreparticularly to a tool for use in oil well operations, wherein anelectrical conductor extends through the jar, and whereby a jarringaction can be obtained in the event of sticking of the equipment,without disrupting or otherwise interfering with the electricalconnections.

In oil well operations it is frequently desirable to ernployelectrically operated devices such as perforating guns, well logginginstruments and the like, which are customarily inserted in the bore ofthe well attached to a cable. When such devices are used, one or moreelectrical conductors must be lowered into the well along with theinstrument in order to operate the same from the ground level. Suchconductors are usually attached to or made a part of the cable on whichthe instruments are lowered.

Heretofore, in making use of electrically operated tools or instrumentsin wells, in the manner mentioned, no satisfactory method has beendeveloped by which such devices or the means by which they are loweredinto the well could be released, in the event of the same becoming stuckin the well, without breaking the conductor, or otherwise disrupting theelectrical circuit. It has been necessary, therefore, to remove theequipment from the well after eifecting its release, and then toreinsert the same after repairing the electrical connections, before theoperation can be resumed. The time and labor expended in releasing thestuck equipment, removing the same from the well, completing thenecessary repairs and reinserting the equipment, is frequently great andmay result in substantial loss in production of the well, or necessitateabandonment of the operations.

It is the primary object of this invention, therefore, to provide aconductor line jar for use with well equipment, including an electricalconductor, and having means whereby jarring operations may be carriedout without disrupting the electrical connections.

Another object of the invention is to provide a conductor line jarhaving means for retaining the jar in a fully retracted condition whileoperating the equipment in the well in order to assure that the depth atwhich the instruments are located may be definitely determined, butwhich means is readily released or broken to permit actuation of the jarin the event that a jarring operation is necessary.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a conductor line jarembodying releasable means for retaining the jar in inoperativecondition until the need arises for placing the same in condition forcarrying out a jarring operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a conductor line jarhaving an extensible electrical conductor passing therethrough which isadapted to be extended and contracted in conformity with correspondingmovements of the operating parts of the jar without effecting theelectrical circuit through the equipment.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following detailed description, constituting aspecification of the same, when considered in conjunction with theannexed drawings, wherein Figures 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D are verticalcross-sectional views showing a preferred form of the invention asapplied to well testing or other equipment and in latched condition,wherein such equipment may be operated without the actuation of the jarfor jarring purposes;

Figures 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D are similar vertical crossjar, showing thesame in .u nlatched out a jarrmgoperation whlle mainconnectlon inundisrupted condiof Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8 8 of Figure 5.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, wherein like numeralsof reference are employed to designate the same parts throughout theseveral views, the numeral 10 indicates a rope socket suitably connectedwith a conductor line 11 and provided with an externally threaded endportion 12. The conductor line may be of conventional constructionhaving one or more inner insulated conductors as 13, surrounded byexternal strands 15 as best seen in Figures 6, 7 and 8, forming an armorfor the conductors and serving to support the load of the equipment inthe well. Means such as a set screw 17, or the like, may be provided inthe rope socket, which means engages the strands of the armor to securethe conductor line to the socket. An upper connector member 14 havinginternal threads at its upper end, is screwed on to the end portion 12of the rope socket 10, and is provided at its lower end with a reducedexternally threaded pin 16 for attachment to the upper section 18 of theouter part of the jar. This outer part of the jar comprises the uppersection 18, a lower tubular section 20, and an intermediate couplingmember 22 connecting the upper and lower sections. The upper section 18of the outer part of the jar is cylindrical in cross-section, as seen inFigure 3, and may be provided with longitudinal slots, as indicated at24 and 26, for a purpose later to be made apparent. An external shoulder28 is also provided on the upper section 18, below its upper end for apurpose to be explained hereinafter.

The lower section 20 of the outer part of the jar is cylindrical incross-section, as seen in Figure 4 of the drawing, and has an externallythreaded cylindrical member 30 threaded into its lower end, as best seenin Figures 1C and 2C. This lower section of the outer part of the jar isformed with a restricted internal portion extending downwardly from itsupper end, as indicated at 32, and terminating above its lower end, asseen at 34. There is an inner part to the jar, which comprises an uppertubular section 36, and a lower tubular section 38. An internallythreaded sleeve 40 is threaded onto the upper end of the lower section38, and receives in its upper end the lower, reduced, externallythreaded end portion 46 of an inner connector member 44, which memberhas an enlarged upper end 48 internally threaded for connection to thelower end of the upper section 36. Packing, such as the O-ringsindicated at 50 and 52 is disposed in the connection between the uppersection 36 and connector 44, and between the connector 44 and sleeve 40.

The space between the inner and outer jar parts forms a cylindricalchamber 42 located inside the lower section 20 of the outer jar part,and a piston 47 in the form of a sleeve surrounds the reduced portion 46of the connector 44, which piston moves in the chamber when the innerand outer jar parts are moved longitudinally relative to each other. Thepiston 47 has an internal diameter somewhat larger than the outsidediameter of the reduced portion 46 of the connector member 44, so thatfluid may flow between the piston and the connector member when thepiston moves in the chamber. Above the piston the enlarged portion 48 ofthe connector member 44 is provided with slots 51, and the portion 48 isof somewhat smaller outer diameter than the inside diameter of the outersection 22, so that Huid may pass by the enlarged portion 48, throughslots 51 and between the reduced portion 46 of member 44 and the piston47. At its lower end the piston 47 has outwardly opening slots 55, whichcommunicate with an annular recess 53 in the reduced portion 46 ofmember 44. The inner sleeve 40 also has a somewhat smaller outerdiameter than the inside diameter of the outer section 22, so that fluidmay pass by the sleeve upon relative longitudinal movement between theinner and outer jar parts.

An O-ring 49 is movably disposed in the recess 53 so that the ring maymove downwardly to allow fluid to flow through the space between thereduced portion 46 of connector member 44 and the piston 47 when the jaris going through a return or dumping movement. Upon relative movement ofthe inner and outer jar parts to secure a jarring action, the O-ring 49will move upwardly in the recess 53 to seal the space between thereduced portion 46 of connector member 44 and the piston 47, and preventthe flow of uid therethrough through that s ace.

pThe upper section 36 of the inner part of the jar passes through theconnecting member 22, which member may be provided with an internalgroove for the reception of packing such as an O-ring 62, forming a uidtight seal between the section 36 and the connecting member. An externalgroove may also be formed in the member 22 for the reception of anO-ring 64 forming a fluid tight seal between the member 22 and the lowersection 20. At its upper end the section 36 is provided with an exteriorannular groove 66 providing an annular shoulder 68, for a purpose towardly extending keys 70 and 72 are also located near the upper end ofthe section 36, which slide in 4the slots 24 and 26, and serve toprevent relative rotation of the inner and outer parts of the jar.

At its lower end the inner section 38 of the jar is attached to aninternally threaded lower connector 74, which is provided at its lowerend with a reduced externally threaded portion 76 for attachment to anydesired instrument.

Pivotal latches 80 are secured on pivot pins 82 within the slots 24 and26, mediate the ends of the outer section 18, of the jar.

The latches 80 are formed with inwardly extending hook portions 84,adapted to hook beneath the shoulder 68 of the inner section 36 of thejar, as best seen in Figure 1A, whereby the parts of the jar are latchedtogether and retained against relative movement until it is desired tooperate the jar. The latch members 80 are also provided with outwardlyopening notches 86, which engage stop members 88 in the slots 24 and 26,to limit outward releasing movement of the latch members. An upwardlyextending tapered arm 90 is provided on each of the latch members, whichis disposed for engagement by a latch operating element or go-devil 92,of cylindrical formation, which may be dropped from above and passesdownwardly over the line, rope socket, upper connector 14 and outer jarsection 18, until it engages the external shoulder 28 provided on thesection 18. This operating member is adapted to engage the arms 90 ofthe latches, to move the same into released positions as best seen inFigure 2A, wherein the inner and outer parts of the jar are unlatchedand may be operated to perform a jarring action.

A line 99 in the form of a cable having one or more insulated conductorstherein, extends through the rope socket and is secured thereto by a setscrew 17, or the like. Extending completely through the jar there is aninsulated electrical conductor 100, having at its upper end anelectrical connector 102 and at its lower end an electrical connector104, providing means for connecting the conductor to the conductor lineabove the jar and to any instruments below the jar in order to completethe electrical circuit through the jar to such instruments. Thisconductor 100 is preferably formed with an elastic extensible coilportion 106, located inside the outer jar section 18, so that relativemovement between the inner and outer parts of the jar results inextension and contraction of the coil, whereby the jar may be freelyoperated without disrupting or otherwise interfering with the electricalcircuit.

In operating the conductor line jar the electrical connector 102 of thecable 99 is connected to the conductor line by means of a connectormember 108 attached to the conductor 100 and the connector 104 isconnected be made apparent hereinafter. Out-v in conducting relation toany instruments below the jar by means of a connector member 109. Thejar is initially latched in the condition seen in Figure lA, and theconductor line with its tools or instruments is lowered into the well.In this condition of the apparatus, the instruments can be operated inthe usual manner, with the jar in latched condition. In the event,however, that the tool or instrument should become stuck in the well,the releasing member 92 may be dropped into the well over the conductorline and will engage and operate the latches 80 to unlatch the jar,after which the jar may be operated in the customary manner to releasethe stuck object. As will be seen from an inspection of Figures lA and2A of the drawing relative movement of the inner and outer parts of thejar results in expansion and contraction of the coil portion 106 of theconductor 100, so that the jar may be freely operated withoutinterference with the electrical circuit.

The jar is operated by applying a tension to the line in any convenientmanner, in the condition of the jar as seen in Figures 1A, 1B, 1C and1D, which causes the outer part of the jar to move upwardly relative tothe inner part. Such movement causes the uid in the charnber 42to movefrom the lower portion 43 of the chamber past the sleeve 40, and throughslots 55 into the recess 53. The upwardly moving uid moves the O-ring 49upwardly in recess 53 to seal the space between the piston and thereduced portion 46 of member 44, so that the fluid must then passbetween the piston and the outer section 20 to reach the upper end ofthe chamber. The piston 47, however, is only slightly larger in outerdiameter than the restricted portion 32 of the chamber, so that when thepiston moves in the restricted portion the ow of uid is restrictedresulting in the building up of tension in the line.

As soon as the piston moves out of the restricted portion, the ow offluid past the piston is suddenly increased and the tension in the linethen causes the upper end of the cylindrical member 30 to strike thelower end of the sleeve 40, producing an upward jarring action on thestuck equipment.

On the return or dumping movement of the jar, the uid passes downwardlypast the enlarged portion 48 of the connector member 44, past the piston47 and sleeve 40 as the piston moves to the lower end of the chamber. Apart of the uid also passes through the slots 51 and between `the piston47 and the reduced portion 46 of connector member 44 and into the recess53, moving the O-ring 49 downwardly, and passing from the recess 53outwardly through slots 55. Thus, the downward flow of fluid isrelatively unimpeded and the jar readily moves to return position.

In the modified form of the invention seen in Figures 5 to 8 of thedrawings, the jar is of similar construction to that previouslydescribed, but is employed without the latching mechanism, any timewithout the need of first unlatching the parts, in the event of stickingof the equipment in the well.

In this form of the invention the conductor line extends through the jarin the same manner as the conductor previously described. The line,however, is formed of one or more insulated conductors enclosed in anumber of strands 15, forming a cable 99' which bears the load of thejar and the testing equipment. The line so constructed is secured to thejar in the connector member 14, by set screws 117 or the like, andbeneath the set screws, some of the strands 15 may be removed, toprovide a relatively weakened portion 100' of the line within the jar asparticularly shown in Figure 7. This weakened portion of the line isconveniently secured to the inner section 36 of the jar by means of thekeys 70 and 72', which take the form of set screws so that in the eventof sticking of the equipment in the well an upward pull on. the linewill result in severing the weakened portion 100 to permit the jar to bereadily operated. Below the keys 70 and 72', the strands 15 may beremoved altogether, if desired, since this portion of the conductor doesnot bear any substantial load.

The operation of the jar is, in other respects, the same as that of thepreviously described form of the invention.

While the invention has been disclosed in connection with a particularembodiment of the same, it will be understood that this is intended byway of illustration only, and many changes may be made in theconstruction and arrangement of the various parts, without departingfrom so that the jar may be operated at the. spirit of the invention, orthe scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a conductor line jar, inner and outer telescopically arranged tubularparts movable longitudinally relative to each other, coacting impactdelivering means on the parts adapted to contact when the parts reachthe limit of their outward movement relative to each other, a supportingcable extending through the parts, means connecting the cable to theparts with said impact delivering means out of contact, said cable havinthe parts, and electri with said cable.

5 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,456,681 Schepp et al. May 29, 1923 2,093,794 Baptie Sept. 21, 1937 102,609,182 Arutunoff Sept. 2, 1952

